Bangladesh’s garment manufacturers have entered a new partnership aimed at accelerating industrial decarbonisation and improving energy efficiency in the country’s export-oriented apparel sector.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) signed a memorandum of understanding with IVY Decarb Marketplace SL on May 6 to promote sustainable machinery upgrades and productivity improvements across Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) and textile industries.
The agreement was signed by BGMEA Vice President Vidiya Amrit Khan and IVY Decarb Managing Director José Manuel Caballero in the presence of BGMEA Director Shah Rayeed Chowdhury and IVY Decarb Business Development Director Md. Masud Rana.
Under the partnership, the two organisations will work to introduce decarbonisation methodologies to BGMEA member factories while helping manufacturers explore advanced energy-efficient industrial machinery.
The collaboration will also focus on developing and validating methodologies to measure productivity and sustainability gains resulting from machinery replacement in textile factories.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Khan said decarbonisation had become a competitive necessity for Bangladesh’s apparel industry rather than solely an environmental concern.
“Through this collaboration with IVY Decarb, BGMEA aims to support member factories in accessing practical pathways for machinery modernisation, efficiency improvements and measurable climate impact,” she said.
Caballero described Bangladesh as one of the world’s most important garment manufacturing hubs and said the country’s growing emphasis on sustainability made the partnership particularly significant.
He added that IVY Decarb would work with BGMEA to help factories identify technology-driven solutions capable of reducing emissions, improving operational productivity and connecting manufacturers with financing and impact-measurement mechanisms.
Bangladesh’s garment sector, which accounts for the bulk of the country’s export earnings, is under increasing pressure from international buyers and regulators to reduce carbon emissions and improve environmental performance as global supply chains tighten sustainability requirements.
Industry leaders say modernising machinery and improving resource efficiency will be crucial for maintaining Bangladesh’s competitiveness in key Western markets, particularly in Europe and the UK, where brands are placing greater emphasis on low-carbon sourcing and traceable production standards.